New Virginia Tech safety DQ Smith is officially part of the team. Smith practiced Tuesday and will play this season. However, he will not play this weekend in the season opener against VMI, per the NCAA, head coach James Franklin says.
“He will not be available by NCAA perspective this weekend,” Franklin said. “But will be moving forward.”
Franklin made it clear it wasn’t an NCAA eligibility issue, but an acclimation period.
Franklin then explained how everything came together, especially considering
the recent lawsuit regarding players signing an NFL contract versus those returning to college football that didn’t sign a contract.
“We talked to the ACC and made sure that we were clear and good to go. Once we got that clearance, then we started the conversations. And then him getting to know us, and us getting to know him. Spent some time with our defensive captains as well. And made sure our team kinda understood it. It was an opportunity for us to bring in a guy who has started for four years in major college football and significant reps. And should really help us on defense and on special teams. We’ve talked about it really since I got the job, about creating depth and competition at every single position. As long as our administration was good with it, and the ACC was good with it, and our leadership council was good with it, then we made the move.”
Franklin also said he spoke to South Carolina head coach — and Virginia Tech alum — Shane Beamer about Smith.
“Yeah, I called Shane; some programs don’t do that. We’re gonna call. It’s amazing how many schools take guys without ever calling the previous school.”
Franklin believes Smith will be a big addition for the Hokies.
No. 25
How will Franklin handle the No. 25 jersey? Instead of giving out each week as the Hokies have done under previous head coaches Justin Fuente and Brent Pry, one player will wear Frank Beamer’s legendary number all season. That player is redshirt junior linebacker George Ballance.
Franklin said he reached out to Coach Beamer just to ensure he was good with the decision to award Ballance the No. 25 all season.
“George Ballance, to me, is everything that epitomizes a Hokie football player,” Franklin said. “It’s really important to him. He’s passionate about it. He’s going to be a multiple-unit starter for us, if not every unit on special teams. And I think he’s got the chance to be a difference-maker. We just felt like, as a staff, and the captains felt like that was the right thing to do. So, he’ll wear 25 for the entire year and be our captain for special teams.”
Ballance spoke about how important the honor was for him and his family, as his father played for the Hokies and his older brother played baseball at Virginia Tech.
Backup quarterback
Franklin refused to name a starting quarterback all offseason until Monday, when he made it official that redshirt sophomore Ethan Grunkemeyer was the starting quarterback. Everyone knew, but Franklin made him earn it for competitive reasons.
He’s doing the same thing with the backup position. He wouldn’t name redshirt freshman Bryce Baker the backup on Wednesday, although only two quarterbacks wore the orange jersey in practice: Grunkemeyer and Baker.
The North Carolina transfer will be VT’s backup quarterback in 2026.
Good news on Emmett Laws
The Hokies’ defensive line could have a promising young player back sooner rather than later. Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Emmett Laws was in pads on Wednesday, although he’s not all the way back yet. Franklin provided an update.
“He’s way ahead of schedule right now. We’ve got to be smart about that, but having our trainers and doctors and then our sports scientist Shaun Huls be able to check all those things and do the testing. What you’re looking for is balance. Is his one leg what percentage behind his other leg, in terms of strength, in terms of movement, in terms of explosion. He’s way ahead of schedule. So, we’ll be smart about that, but he’s had a great attitude, a great mindset……he’s been phenomenal. He’s a guy we anticipate getting back here at some point, but when, that’s to be determined.”
